Author/Editor		Ihan, Alojz
Title		Gen in njegova enkratna zgodba
Translated title		Gene and its unique story
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 66, št. 10
Publication year		1997
Volume		str. 503-4
Language		slo
Abstract		Mendel's breeding experiments with the pea plant first revealed, that genes are discrete and stabile units that remain basically unchanged through many generations. Mendel's experiments led him to conclude that many traist of he pea were under the control of two distinct factors-genes. Soon genes were considered to control not only plant but also animal and human traits. Such speculations made of genes not only important biochemical molecules but also very powerful mythical elements, closely connected to basis of human identity. Therefore a modern genetics must on one hand be constantly confronted by rational, ethical considerations of its scientific and technological goals. On the other hand geneticist must be aware that DNA molecule is still very connected to some of the most powerful human myths. Therefore gene manipulation must not only be in accordance to rational ethical consideration but also in agreement with actual human mythologies, that, even irrational, act in an extremely powerful and realistic way.
Summary		Mendel je pri križanju graha prvi odkril, da so geni samostojne in stabilne enote, ki skozi številne generacije ostajajo praktično nespremenjene. Iz poskusov je Mendel zaključil, da je posamezna lastnost graha navadno določena z delovanjem dveh samostojnih dejavnikov - genov. Kmalu se je izoblikovala hipoteza, da geni ne določajo le posamezne lastnosti rastlin, ampak tudi živali in ljudi. Zaradi te hipoteze so geni razen svoje biokemijske pridobili tudi možno mitološko vsebino, ki se je dotikala samih temeljev človeške identitete. Zato morajo danes genetiki po eni strani nenehno preudarjati nacionalne in etične razsežnosti svojih znanstvenih in tehnoloških ciljev. Po drugi strani ne smejo spregledati, da je molekula DNA še vedno tesno povezana z nekaterimi temeljnimi človeškimi miti. Zato ni dovolj, da je genska manipulacija zgolj v skladu z racionalnimi etičnimi razmisleki. prav tako je potrebno, da je v skladu z aktualnimi, dejavnimi mitologijami, ki, čeprav so iracionalne, še kako realno delujejo.
Descriptors		GENETICS GENES ETHICS DNA